Night 5: ‘Cronos’ (1993)

In true Guillermo Del Toro-fashion, this film has it all: blood, monsters, and a deep sympathy for the odd and the unusual.

A legendary gadget, lost a long time ago, is found by a humble shopkeeper (Federico Luppi) and his granddaughter (Tamara Shanath). While tinkering with it, the mechanism starts working and stings the old man, leaving him with a bloody hand and an impossible itchiness. And yet, that’s the least of his problems!

Soon he’ll find out that the gadget is actually a unique machine designed to extend the life of its owner… but at a price. And a man (Claudio Brook) and his nephew (Ron Perlman) will stop at nothing until they get it.

More than a horror story, ‘Cronos’ is a straightforward tale that luckily doesn’t try to explain the origin of the evil behind the supernatural abilities of the monster, but, instead, focuses in its transformation from human to creature.

Del Toro has always been fond of monsters, and this is not an exception to the rule. So, of course, the most memorable parts of the film actually come down to the relationship between the old man and the adorable Aurora. The latter is the poster child of the Del Toro heroine: brunette, mostly silent, perceptive, and capable of caring and seeing the good in the extraordinary, no matter how ugly or unnatural.

The scene in the little girl’s dusty playroom, when she prepares a makeshift bed for the old man inside her toy trunk, inevitably had me grinning from ear to ear.

‘Cronos’ is delightful and simple, and gives its own twist to the vampire genre. Yet, it’s not particularly outstanding or groundbreaking. And that’s ok!

If you are looking for a family friendly film with some spooky elements and a lot of heart, this one might be for you.

Grade: 7/10. Worth the time you invest in it.

Scare Factor: not too scary. A couple of creepy images at the start.

Gore/violence: some blood and some violence.

Nudity/sexual situations: none.

Tomorrow: ‘Candyman’ (1992)